An uncontacted tribe reportedly used bows and arrows to attack loggers in a remote part of the Peruvian Amazon.
The incident was reported by a local Indigenous alliance, which highlighted the government’s failure to protect the region from the threat of forest extraction.
According to the organization FENAMAD, one of its members was seriously wounded by an arrow fired by an individual from the Mashco Piro group on July 27 in the Pariamanu River basin.
The incident reportedly happened in a region that’s regarded as Mashco Piro territory.
Survival International noted that the tribe hasn’t been given formal protection.
In response to the incident, FENAMAD asked the Peruvian government to carry out urgent measures to protect the Mashco Piro and prevent future confrontations.
The organization noted that the attack highlighted the need for the government to protect the entire region.
The attack shows the need for the authorities to take immediate action to revoke the permits granted to the companies operating in the region, as it is very difficult to protect the members of the tribe and the workers of the logging industry.
The Mashco-Piro are an indigenous community of hunters and gatherers in southeast Peru.
They are regarded as one of the world’s largest uncontacted groups.
Due to their reclusive nature, the Mashco-Piro are known to be very distrustful of outsiders.
During the 19th century, the group was greatly affected by the activities of colonial rubber barons in the Amazon.
Thousands of their people were enslaved, and countless others were killed, robbed, raped, and beaten.
A book written by Walter Hardenburg describes some of the horrors that occurred to the tribe.
The book states that these animals were badly beaten until their bones are fully exposed.
They are then left to die, and they are eaten by maggots, as they were used as food for the chiefs’ dogs.
The animals are also castrated and have their limbs, ears, and fingers cut off.
The members of the Mashco-Piro are reportedly tortured by using fire and water. Their houses and crops are also destroyed for amusement.
Due to the illegal activities of the logging companies, the tribe is now facing a new threat.
Last month, a group called Survival released photos showing how members of the tribe were living dangerously close to areas that are being targeted for logging.
In July, Caroline Pearce, the director of Survival International, stated that the situation of the Mashco Piro was becoming a humanitarian disaster.
She urged the government to take immediate action to protect the tribe.
